The Bible says in Ephesians 4:26: “In your anger, do not sin” – which implies that it’s not a sin to get angry. It’s going to happen. Getting angry is inevitable. Living angry is a choice.
I try to remind myself that there’s simply no upside in getting angry. There’s no win. There’s no victory. I’ve never in my life become more joyful … by getting ticked off at someone. My marriage has never gotten better … by getting annoyed at my wife. I’ve never gotten closer to God … by getting angry.
Let me say it again: Getting angry is inevitable. But living angry is a choice.
That’s why the Bible says you’ve got to be really, really careful when it comes to anger. Because if you hold onto that anger, what you’re actually doing is giving the devil a foothold in your life.
That’s why the Bible says you’ve got to be really, really careful when it comes to anger. Because if you hold onto that anger, what you’re actually doing is giving the devil a foothold in your life.
I used to think that “giving the devil a foothold” meant don’t let the devil get his foot in the door – like someone knocks on your door, you open it a crack to see who it is, and the person puts his foot in the opening so you can’t get rid of him.
But the actual Greek word for foothold is even more dramatic than that. It’s the word “topos.” It literally means a place or a room.
So, if you live in anger, you’re actually giving the devil a place inside your mind. It’s like you’re building him a little apartment in your brain. Isn’t that crazy? Here’s how crazy that is – He’s your enemy, your accuser, the prince of lies, and you’re letting him live rent free in your head.
And that’s why there’s a powerful part of this verse that I don’t want you to miss. It says: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
In other words, don’t hang onto it. Don’t let the day come to an end while you’re still holding and harboring your anger. The day of your hurt should also be the day of your healing.